A Pragmatic Analysis of the Language Gender Framing on X

Abstract

This study explores the complex dynamics of gender framing on Twitter (now X) within feminist and transgender discourse. It analyzes the various pragmatic mechanisms through which users negotiate, construct, perform, and contest gender, focusing on critical feminist issues and transgender rights. Employing a rigorous qualitative approach rooted in Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), complemented by systematic analysis of a theoretically representative corpus of public tweets, this investigation examines linguistic data from diverse activists, influential figures and everyday users. The central focus is twofold: identifying recurrent pragmatic strategies (speech acts, politeness, presupposition, implicature, deixis) and analyzing dominant frames, themes (e.g., gender-based violence, intersectional feminism, transgender rights, deconstruction of gender binaries), and narratives surrounding gender, feminism, and transgender identities as they emerge on X. The findings aim to illuminate the critical role of pragmatic choices and discursive framing in shaping public gender discourse online, revealing the interplay between empowering and potentially problematic representations. Ultimately, this study contributes to understanding the opportunities and challenges of using social media for effective feminist and transgender activism, fostering inclusive online interactions, and informing broader societal progress towards gender justice.